Murray River boosted by environmental flows

About 3000Ml a day of environmental will flow through the system in the coming weeks.

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Water for the environment has again started to flow along the Murray River now that transfers of consumptive water that occurred through most of spring have been reduced.

Murray-Darling Basin Authority head of river management Andrew Reynolds said about 3000Ml/day of environmental water was now flowing through the system, delivering environmental benefits throughout the Murray River and down to the Coorong.

‘‘It is timely that this water is able to be accommodated along with high volumes of consumptive water now,’’ he said.

‘‘Low inflows and dry conditions limited our plans to deliver water for the environment during the spring because channel capacity was taken up moving water to where it will be needed to meet peak demand during summer.

‘‘All basin governments have recognised the need to work through how we can better integrate the needs of the environment along with other water users’ needs, so that water for the environment can get the best possible environmental outcomes.’’

During spring about 15000Ml/day had been released from upstream storages to increase Lake Victoria levels and meet early season irrigation demands.

‘‘We expect to be maintaining higher flows into December, with water for the environment reducing to about 1000Ml/day towards the end of the month,’’ Mr Reynolds said.

‘‘The low inflows and dry conditions, coupled with the need to conserve as much water as possible to meet demands over a forecast hot and dry summer, made river operations this season especially challenging.

‘‘The rules that govern river operations developed over more than 100 years to support irrigation and we now need to update those rules so that we can manage the river for the environment as well.’’

Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder Jody Swirepik welcomed the commitment from all basin states to work together to balance the needs of irrigation and the environment.

‘‘Our inability to use our water this spring has had an impact on the environmental outcomes we will achieve this year and will mean that we carry more water over into next year,’’ Ms Swirepik said.

‘‘Water for the environment needs to be able to be used in the places and at the times that allow the best outcomes, especially during dry times — because just as farmers and communities feel the effects of drought, so does the river system they depend on.

‘‘It’s the right time to work through these issues with the states so that the community can have ongoing confidence that the basin plan will deliver a healthier basin for the environment, communities and industries.’’